Vascular access systems and methods of use

Abstract

A vascular access system and method of use for said system. The vascular access system generally comprises a body member; a shuttle member movably coupled to the body member; and a plurality of access needles fixedly coupled to the shuttle member and extending from the body member to penetrate a patient's skin.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 769,664, filed on Feb. 26, 2013, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]The invention generally relates to systems and methods for vascular access. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for assisting medical practitioners in achieving vascular access in a rapid and consistent manner.[0003]Typically, blood vessels or other hollow organs are accessed by practicing the Seldinger technique. In the Seldinger technique, the desired vessel or cavity is punctured with a sharp hollow needle called a trocar, with ultrasound guidance if necessary. A round-tipped guidewire is then advanced through the lumen of the trocar, and the trocar is withdrawn. A “sheath” or blunt cannula can then be passed over the guidewire into the cavity or vessel. After passing a sheath or tube, the guidewire is withdrawn. Vascular ac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In one embodiment, the vascular access system comprises a body member, a shuttle member movably coupled to the body member, and a plurality of parallel access needles fixedly coupled to the shuttle member. The plurality of needles may be evenly spaced from one another (center of needle to center of needle), and provide optimized lateral spanning of the region of a desired blood vessel (such as the femoral artery). The body member is adapted to be held against the skin of a patient in the general area of a desired blood vessel, and holds the shuttle member and access needles at a set angle relative to the skin, to enhance proper vascular access. The shuttle member may be advanced in a controlled manner by a medical professional such that the access needles simultaneously and evenly penetrate the skin of the patient. The shuttle may be advanced by the medical professional until aspiration of blood sufficient to indicate vascular access is observed from at least one of the access needles. If more than one needle is aspirating blood, the needle aspirating the most blood has likely accessed a large artery, e.g., the femoral artery. Less aspiration would likely be noted in a vein or a smaller artery. A guidewire may then be fed through the aspirating needle and into the blood vessel. The vascular access system may then be removed while maintaining the position of the guidewire. The desired blood vessel is thus accessed and ready to have a catheter, sheath, occlusion device, second wire, or other medical device inserted therein, as necessary. By use of the inventive vascular access system, vascular access may rapidly, safely, and repeatedly be achieved, without the need for additional monitoring or guidance systems. As such, vascular access may be achieved by medical professionals in the field or other settings where conditions for practicing standard vascular access techniques, such as the Seldinger technique, may be impractical or impossible.

Problems solved by technology

With the inventive vascular access system, vascular access may be achieved by medical professionals in the field or other settings where conditions for practicing standard vascular access techniques, such as the Seldinger technique, may be impractical or impossible.

As such, vascular access may be achieved by medical professionals in the field or other settings where conditions for practicing standard vascular access techniques, such as the Seldinger technique, may be impractical or impossible.

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